Taking The Hill
Senator Smith to Examine EPA Budget
Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., the new chairman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has called for oversight hearings on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) current $7.5 billion budget before Congress authorizes the agency's fiscal 2001 budget next fall. "We'll be accused of harassing the EPA," said Smith. He went on to say that the EPA must be held as accountable as every other government agency, noting that Congress isn't accused of harassment when it holds hearings on the Defense Department budget.
Environmentalist Groups Upset by FY2000 Budget
Environmentalists are upset with the new $385 billion fiscal 2000 budget. Among the sources of contention was an amendment to the omnibus spending bill, which bars government funding for proposing or issuing rules, regulations, decrees or orders for the purpose of implementing or preparing implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. Groups such as the Sierra Club and U.S. Public Interest Research Group also complain that Congress barred the administration from raising automotive fuel economy standards, which they claim would be the single biggest step to curb climate change.
EPA Rule Upheld in Court
A federal court upheld an EPA rule on emissions monitoring, dismissing arguments from environmental and industry groups that challenged the 1997 regulation, known as the Compliance Assurance (CAM) rule. The CAM rule requires plant operators to monitor their emissions control equipment to prove ongoing compliance with pollution limits and allows for the use of indirect, so-called parametric, measures to ensure standards are met.
Environmental critics contend that CAM is too lenient and a violation of the Clean Air Act, failing to cover certain sources or to require direct observation of emissions. Industry critics charge that the regulation illegally tightens existing emission limits by allowing new, unforeseen methods to measure compliance.
Presidential Candidates Comment on Ethanol Subsidies
Most of the front-running presidential candidates, with the exception of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., support federal tax incentives for producing ethanol. Republican Gov. George W. Bush, R-Texas, is quoted as saying he supports "tax incentives for use of ethanol. Not only is it good for the farmer, it is good for the quality of air all across America." Chief rival McCain calls ethanol tax incentives "simply an outdated subsidy for corn producers [and] an example of the influence of special interests in Washington." Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, is quoted as favoring development of "as many alternative sources of gasoline as we possible can."
Among the Democrats, Vice President Al Gore is touting his longtime support for ethanol and the Coalition notes his tiebreaking vote to defeat a proposal by then-Sen. Bill Bradley, D-N.J., that would have cut ethanol tax incentives. Gore's chief rival, Bradley, has changed his position on ethanol. Bradley now thinks "for farmers in the Midwest, ethanol makes sense," and he promises "no raids on ethanol" subsidies during his administration.
OSHA Releases Midnight Ergonomics Proposal || The Multifunctional Multimeter || Paint the New Century Faster and Easier || Today's Female Customer || Guest Editorial || Tech to Tech || Tech Tips || News Briefs || Taking the Hill || Around ASA || Net Worth || Stat Corner || Shop Profile || Chairman's Message
AutoInc. Magazine ® Vol.XIVIII, February 2000
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